Assembling device for slicing machines



July 4, 1933. J. FOLK ASSEMBLING DEVICE FOR SLICIG MACHINES Filed Dec. 2, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 1V @y mi my July 4, 1933. 1 FOLK ASSEMBLING DEVICE FOR SLIGING MACHINES 4 (Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Deo. 2, 1927 July 4, 1933. 1 FQLK 1,916,566

ASSEMBLING DEVICE FOR SLICING MACHINES Filed Deo. 2, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 July 4, 1933. J. FOLK ASSEMBLING DEVICE FOR SLICING MACHINES Filed Dec. 2, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented July 4, 1933 n n-urso STATES PATENT y OFFICE JOSEPH FOLK, F LA PORTE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO U. S. SLICING MACHINE COMPANY, OF LA PORTE, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA ASSEIWIBLING DEVICE FOR SLICING MACHINES Application filed December 2, 1927. Serial No. 237,134.

rilhis invention relates to machines of the general type shown in my co-pending application, Serial No. 134,353, filed September 9, 1926, of which this application is a continuation in part and has for its object the provision of a device for receiving the slices and assembling them in order so that they will be ready for wrapping. Application, Serial No. 134,353 has now matured into Patent 1,818,244.

@ther objects will appear from the following description.

The invention is exemplified in the combination and arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawings and described in the following specification, and it is more particularly pointed out in the appended claims. Y

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of a slicing machine showing one embodiment of the present invention applied thereto;

F 2 is a top plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1, with parts in section and parts broken away;

3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing a modified form of the invention; and

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 3, with parts in section and parts broken away.

Referring to the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the numeral 10 designates the frame or base of a slicing machine having a rotary slicing knife 11 and a reciprocating feed table 12. A main drive shaft 13 is connected, by mechanism not shown, with the slicing knife and reciprocating table to drive'these parts in the usual well known manner. A bracket 14 extends forwardly from the base and is provided with an upright shaft 15 liXed therein. A beveled gear 16 is journaled on the shaft 15 and is driven by a shaft 17 gear-ed to the shaft 13, as shown in the drawings. A pulley 18 is journaled in the shaft 15 above the gearV 16 and is constrained to rotate with the gear 16 by means of a pin 19. These parts are so proportioned that the pulley 18 will make a full revolution for each cutting'stroke of the table 12. An upright rim or abutment plate 20 is secured'to the periphery of the pulley 18 in position to pass closely adj acent the cut-- ting edge of the knife 11, as shown in Fig. 2. The axis of rotation of the pulley 18 is oset relative to the cutting edge of the knife 11 so that the periphery of the pulley and the guard plate 20 will eXtend a slight distance beneath the reciprocating table 12 at a point directly opposite the shaft 13. A slice support 21 is shaped to fit inside the guard plate 2O and is provided with a series of equally spaced notches 22 in its periphery for receivinga key 23 secured to the inner face of the guard plate 20. The slice support 21 vis carried by a sleeve 24 slidably mounted on the upper end of the shaft 15. The shaft 15 is provided with threads 25 which are engaged by `a toothed block 26 carried by a hand lever 27 pivoted at 28 to the sleeve 24. A spring 29 normally rotates .the block 26 into engagement Withthe threads 25. vA delector` 30 is supported on a bracket 31 and crosses the top edge of the guard plate 20 to direct the slices as they are severed broad side down onto the slice receiver 21. A sup- 21 is in its lowermost position on top of the pulley 18, the toothed block 26 will register with the blankportion of the shaft 15 and rotation of the shaft will not elect the block 26 or the slice receiver connected therewith.

Since the pulley 18 makes a full revolution for each slicing movement of the table 12, it will be apparent that a particular spot on the slice receiver 21 will return into registration with the cutting edge of the knife 11 for every slice severed and that the same portion on the receiver 21 will register with the cutting edge of the knife to receive each slice. Thus, as the tabl-e 12 reciprocates, the slice receiver 21 rotates continuously in the same direction and a stack of slices will be deposited on the slice receiver at a particular point thereon.

Since the shaft 15 is stationary, rotation of the receiving plate 21 will gradually feed the plate downwardly to accommodate additional slices as they are deposited on top of the stacks. The guard plate 2O will prevent the slices from being dislodged from the stacks by centrifugal force. The peripheral speed of the slice receiver will depen-d upon the radial distance of the periphery from the aXis of the shaft 15. This distance is preferably made such that the speed of the receiving plate will be slightly greater than the rate of movement of the table 12 so that the re ceiving plate will have a tendency to stretch out the slice as it is deposited thereon, thus smoothing out any wrinkles that might otherwise be formed. The continuous movement of the slice receiver at a uniform speed produces a peculiarly smooth and easy running arrangement since there is no jar incident to reversing the direction of movement of the receiver and no force required to overcome the inertia, when the parts are stopped and started, as is true with a reciprocating slice receiver.

1n case the material sliced is more than can be conveniently contained in a single stack,

the receiver 21 is raised by releasing the half-v nut 26 from the threads 25 by means of the lever 27 and `the receiver is turn-ed to bring the successive notches into registry with the key 23. The receiver is then lowered and the half-nut 26 permitted to engage the threads 25. Continued operation of the machine will cause the formation of another stack of slices spaced from the former stack the distance between the notches 22. Any number of stacks corresponding to the number of notches 22 may be similarly formed. The drawings show provision for four stacks. Vhile this number is found convenient, it is obvious that any number of stacks may be formed by properly spacing the notches 22 on the receiver 21.

In the modification shown in Figs. 3 and 4, a different mode of operating the receiver is shown. The receiver consists of a pulley 18 to which is attached the abutment plate 20 and the pulley 18 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 15 which is fixed in the bracket 14 attached to the base of the machine. The shaft- 15, as in the first modification, is provided with threads 25 engaging the half-nut 26 on the lever 27 pivoted at 28 on the hollow handle portion 24 and actuated by the spring 29. The receiving plate 21 of the receiver is attached to the sleeve 24 which is slidably mounted on the upper end of the shaft 15 and the plate 21 is provided with a series of spaced notches 22. adapted to engage the keyv 23 on the inside of the abutment plate 20. r1`he slice deiiector 30, the knife 11', the slice support 31', and the bracket 82, are all arranged as in the first modification. To the 'reciprocating table 12 is attached a bracket 40 having a bearing in the portion 41 thereof to receive the shaft 42 which is journal-ed inl one end of the link 4 5 and the other end of n the link 45 has a bearing journaled `on the pin 48 of the link 46.

The link 46 has an enlarged bearing portion 47 ournaled on'the shaft 15 and mount-V faces 57. The base of the machine carries 'a' boss 61 in which is slidably mounted the bolt 5S carrying the plunger 60 and surrounded by a spring 59 which urges the plunger toward the shoes The shoes 56 have inclinedV faces 57 so that the shoes 56 will smoothly engage the spring-pressed plunger and lift it to the straight, horizont-al friction face of the shoes 56.

ln the operation of the machine, the reciprocating table on its cutting stroke will partially rotate the receiver through the yengagen'ient of the pawl 51 with the teeth 50 but on the return stroke of the table, the pawl will slide freely over the teeth 5() and will impart no movement to the receiver. The friction shoes 56 are spaced on the pcriphery of the pulley 18 so that they will engage the plunger 60 at the endy of the rotat-ive movement caused by the table 12 and will prevent over-running ofthe receiver and hold it stationary during the revers-e movement of the reciprocating table. The linkage is so proportioned that the receiver will make a compiete revolution for a delinite number of reciprocative movements of the table or work support and thus recur* rently return each slice to the same slice-receiving position so as to stack them one upon the other in spaced stacks, The number of stacks will, of course, be predetermined by' the amount of rotative movement imparted to the receiver by each reciprccation of the work support.

iis shown in the drawings, the receiver will make one revolution for each four cutting strokes of the table; that is, four will be successively deposited on the receivinc table 12 during one revolution of the i c and continued operation of the machine l* successively deposit additional slices on each one of the previously deposited. slices. The proportion of the parts can, ofcourse, be changed to cause the formation of any number of stacks.

It is apparent that the invention is not limited to the number .of'stacks formed by the embodiment shown and described, but that the machine may be designed to form various numbers of stacks. F or instance, if

5 the receiver were made one-fourth larger in diameter and arranged to make one-fifth of a revolution for each slice cut the machine would form five stacks and still maintain the same peripheral speed as the embodiment shown. The device is also capable cf forming more stacks by merely changing the proportion of the gears which drive the slice receiver, or by changing the amount which the slice receiver is rotated by the intermittent feeding mechanism. v

I claim l j f y rlfhe combination with a `slicing ina-- ie, of a slice receiver, means for rotating' receiver about anupright axis tobi-ingl G a portion thereof recurrently into slice receiving position adjacent said knife, means for ldeflectiiig the slices broad side down directly onto said receiver as said slices are cut, means for feeding said receiver downwardly 5 to accommodate successive slices, and means for adjusting the. position of the slice receiver to bring other portions of said `slice receiver into slice receivingiposition.

2. The combination with a slicing knife,

0 of a slice receiver, means for rotatingl sait receiver in but one direction about an upright axis, and a threadedl device concentric with said axis for feeding said receiver downwardly as it is rotated.

5 3. The combination with a slicing machine, of. a slice receiver mounted to rotate about an upright axis, means for driving said receiver continuously in one direction of rotation, a threaded shaft upon which 0 said receiver is mounted, ineas on said receiver meshing with the threads on said shaft, aiidmeans for holding saidV shaft stationary to cause said receiver to be fed longitudinally thereof as it yrotates thereon.

5 4l. The combination with a'slicing niachine, of slice receiver mounted to rotate about an upright axis, an abutment plate extending about the periphery of said slice receiver, means for driving said slice receiver O continuously in one direction, and means for feeding said receiver downwardly relative te said abutment plate.

5. The combination with a slicing machine comprising a slicing knife and means for feeding material to said knife to sever slices therefrom, of a slice receiver mounted to rotate about an upright axis and having an abutment plate extending about the periphery thereof, a d-eflector for directing slices means for rotating said receiver continuously in one direction to bring a given portion thereof recurrently into position to receive slices from said deflector, and means for feeding said receiver downwardly to accompast said abutment plate onto said receiver, y

modate additional slices as they are deposited thereon.

6.V The combination with ay slicing ,ma-

chine, of a'slice receiver, an upright shaft on which said receiver is mounted, threads ceiver about saidshaft to cause said receiver to move longitudinally of said shaft.

7. The combination with a slicing machine having a slicing knife, of a slice receiver having slice receiving portions movable past the edge of said knife, one of said slice receiving portions being arranged to periodically return into slice receiving position to receive slices as theyv are being formed s0 thatV the slices will be deposited one upon the other at said portions, means for deflecting slices away from said slicing knife and for depositing said slices directly onto said receiver, said slice receiving portion of s aid receiver being adjustable away from its periodic slice receiving position, and lanother of said slice receiving portions being adjustable into the periodic slicereceiving position occupied by said first-named slice receiving portion to deposit slices one upon the other at said second-named slice receiving portion.

8. The combination with a slicing inachine, of Aa continuously rotating slice receiver having slice receiving portions thereon, a slicing knife, one of said slice receiving portions being arranged to return periodically into slice receiving position to receive slices directly frni said knife as they are being formed so that the slices will be deposited one upon the other at said portions, said slice receiving portion of said receiver being adjustable away from its periodic slice receiving position, another of said slice receiving portionsbeing adjustable into the periodic slice receiving position occupied by said first-named slice receiving portion to deposit slices one upon the other at said second-named slice receiving portion, and means for directing the slices broad side down directly onto said receiver as they are formed.

9. The combination with a slicing machine'having a slicing knife, of a slice receiver having slice receiving portions thereon, said slice receiving portions being movable past the edge of said knife to return periodically one of said slice receiving portions into position to receive slices directly from said knife as they are being formed so that the slices will be deposited one upon the other at said portion of said receiver, means to adjust said receiver to move said slice receiving portion away from its slice receiving position and to bring another of said slice receiving portions into periodic slice receiving position to receive slices directly isa from said knife as they are formed so that` the slices will be deposited one upon the other lat said other slic-e receiving portion, and

means for defiecting the slices directly onto said receiver from said knife.

10. A slicing machine comprising a slicing knife, a continuously rotating slice receiver having slice receiving` portions thereon arranged to return periodically one of said portions into position to receive slices directly ing slices broadside down directly onto said ill receiver as they are formed. Y 11. The combination with a slicing machine, of a slice receiver mounted to rotate, means for driving said receiver continuously in one direction in timed relation to the movement of said slicing'machine to bring the same portion of said receiver recurrently into position to receive slices as they are being formed, and means for adjusting said receiver relative to said driving means so that said driving means will bring another portion of said receiver recurrently into position to receive slices as they are being formed. p

12. The combination with a slicing machine having a slicing knife, of a slice receiver,'a deiiector for directing` slices as they are formed onto said slice receiver, means for rotating said receiver to bring a given portion thereof recurrently into position to receive slices directly from said knife as they are formed so that said slices will be deposited one upon the other forming a stack on said receiver, means for adjustingsaid `receiver relative to said rotating means so that said driving means will bring another portion of said receiver recurrently into position to receive slices as they are being formed, and means for defiecting said slices directly onto said receiver as they are formed.

13. The combination with a slicing machine having a slicing knife, of a continuously rotating slice receiver having slice receiving portions thereon, said slice receiving portions being movable past the edge of said knife to return periodically one of said slice receiving portions into position to receive slices as they are being .formed so that the slices will be deposited one u1 on the other at said portion of the receiver, means to adjust said receiver to move said slice receiving portion away from its slice receiving position and to bring another of said slice receiving portions into periodic slice receiving position to receive slices as they are being formed so that the slices will be deposited one upon the other at said other slice receiving portion, and means for feeding said re'- ceiver downwardly to accoininodatek addi-v tional slices. Y

14. The combination with yaslicing ma-Y into periodic slice receiving position to receive slices as they are being formed so Vthat slices will be deposited one upon theother at said other slice receiving portion, and means for feeding said receiver downwardly to accommodate successive slices.

15. The combination with a slicing inachine, of a slice receiver mounted to rotate, means for driving said receiver continuously in one direction in timed relation to the movement of said slicing machine to bring the same portion of said receiver recurrently into position to receive slicesV as they are being formed, means for adjusting said receiver relative to said "driving means so that said driving means will bring another portion of said receiver recurrently into position to relceive slices as they are formed, and means for feeding said receiver downwardly to accommodate successive slices.

16. slicing machine comprising a slicing knife, a support for the substance to be sliced, said support being adapted to move recurrently past the cutting edge of said knife, and a rotatable slice receiver adjacent the edge of said knife, said slice receiver comprising a cylindrical member and a-fplate member movable axially of said cylindrical member as said slice receiver is rotated, said plate member having a plurality of notches therein adapted to be selectively moved into engagen'ient with a guide member on said cylindrical member so as to change the angular position of said plate relative to said' cylindrical member. Y

17. ln a slicing machine, the combination with a slicing knife, of a carriage adapted to reciprocate past the cuttinOv edge of said knife, a rotatable slice receiver positioned so as to rotate adjacent the edge of said knife and in one direction only, a defiector for deiiecting slices broad side down directly onto said slice receiver to stack the same, said slice receiver being rotatable a fraction of a kcomplete revolution during a complete reciprocation of said table past said slicing knife, said slice receiver being niovableidownwardly to accommodate additional slices as the same are deposited thereon. Y n

18. A slicing machine comprising a slicing knife, means for moving a substance to be sliced relatively to the slicing knife so that slices are cut therefrom, a slice receiver continuously rotatable about an axis to bring different portions thereof into slice receiving position adjacent said knife, and means for deflecting the slices directly on to said receiver after the same have been formed by said slicing knife, said deector preventing the buckling' of the slices as the slices move over the deflector, said receiver being movable downwardly to accommodate additional slices as they areformed. 19. ln a slicing machine the combination with a slice receiver, of means for intermittently rotating said receiver about an upright axis to bring a portion thereof recurrently into slicel receivingposition adjacent said knife, means for deflecting the slice broadside down directly onto said receiver as said slices are cut, means for feeding said receiver downwardly to accommodate successive slices, and means for adjusting the position of they slice receiver to bring other portions of said slice receiver into slice receiving position.

20. The combination with a slicing machine, of a slice receiver mounted to rotate about an upright axis, and an abutment plate extending about the periphery of said slice receiver, means for driving said slice receiver intermittently in one direction, and means for feeding' said receiver downwardly relative to said abutment plate.

21. The combination with a slicing machine having a slicing knife and a reciprocating work support, of a` slice receiver mounted to rotate and connected with said work support to move the slice receiving surface of said slice receiver past the cutting edge of the knife to receive slices as they are being formed, a slice deflector for deflectingslices away from the knife and toward the slice receiver so that said slice'is thrown broad side down onto said slice receiver so that it lies substantially flat thereon, said connection between said support and said receiver permitting movement of said receiver during one stroke only of the reciprocating support and allowing the receiver to remain stationary during the other stroke of said reciprocating support, and means effective at the end of the stroke of said work support actuating said receiver to prevent further rotation of said receiver and to hold said receiver stationary during the other stroke of said work support- 22. The combination with a slicing machine having a slicing knife and a reciprocating work support, of a slice receiver mounted to rotate and connected with said work support to move the slice receiving surface of said slice receiver past the cutting edge of the knife to receive slices as they are being formed, a. slice deflector for deflecting slices away from the knife and toward the slice receiver so that said slice is thrown broad side'down onto said slice receiver so' that it lies substantially flat thereon, said connection between said support and said receiver permitting movement of said receiver during one stroke only of the reciprocating support and allowing the receiver to remain stationary' during the other stroke of said reciprocating support, and friction means effective only at the end of the stroke of said work support during which it is actuating said receiver to prevent further rotation of said receiver and to hold said receiver stationary during the other stroke of said work support.

23. The combination with a slicing machine having a slicing knife anda reciprocating work support movable past the edge of said knife to slice a material in said work support, of a rotatably mounted slice receiver'having a receiving porti on connected with said work support, said connection causing intermittent rotation of said slice receiver upon reciprocation of said work support, a deflector mounted adjacent said knife to deposit a slice of the material cut broad side down on said receiver during each period of intermittent rotation, the rotative movement of said receiver being so timed with respect to the reciprocative'slicing movement of said work support that additional sliceswill be successively deposited and stacked on each of said vfirst-mentioned slices.

24. The combination with a slicing machine having a slicing knife and a recpriocating work support movable past the edge of said knife to slice-material on said work support, of a rotatably mounted slice receiver having a vreceiving portion connected with said work support, said connection causing intermittent rotation of said slice receiver upon reciprocation of said work support, a detlector mounted adjacent said knife to deposit a slice of the material cut broad side down on said receiver during each period of intermittent rotation, the rotative movement of said receiver being so timed with respect to the reciprocative slicing movement of said work support that additional slices will be successively deposited and stacked on each of said first-mentioned slices, and means effective at the end of each period of 'intermittent rotation of said receiver to prevent further rotation thereof and to hold said receiver stationary until the next period of intermittent rotation.

25. The combination with a. slicing machine, of a slice receiver connected with said machine for intermittent rotation, and means effective at the end of each impulse causing the intermittent rotation, to stop Vfurther 'rotation of said receiver due to its inertia, and to hold said receiver stationary until the nentV period of rotary movement of said receiver, said means comprising members on said receiver spaced substantially equal to the arc of movement of said receiver, said members being adapted to contact with a stationary element.

26. 'Ihe combination with a slicing machine, of a slice receiver connected with said machine for intermittent rotation, and means effective at the end of each impulse causing the intermittent rotation, to stop further rotation of said receiver due to its inertia, and to hold said receiver stationary until the next period of rotary movement of said receiver, said means comprising members on said 'receiver spaced substantially equal to the arc of movement of said receiver, said members having friction faces adapted to contact with a stationary fraction ele ment. i

27. The combination with a slicing machine, of a slice receiver connected with said machine for intermittent rotation. and means effective at the end of each impulse causing the intermittent rotation to stop further rotation of said receiver due to its inertia, and to hold said receiver stationary until the next period of rotary movement of said receiver, said means comprising members on said receiver spaced substantially equal to the are of movement of said receiver, a springpressed plunger mounted station ary with respect to said members, said members having friction faces to bear against the face of said plunger, said members also having inclined faces to guide said plunger ont-o said friction faces.

28. A slicing machine comprising a slicing knife, a reciprocating table a rotatable cylin drical member adapted to rotate adjacent the edge of said table, a circular plate fitted within said cylindrical member and adapted to move longitudinal thereof, interlocking means on said circular plate and cylindrical member for preventing relative rotation between said plate and said cylindrical member.

said interlocking means being operative during the entire longitudinal movement of said circular plate relative to said cylindrical member and permitting the quick removal of said circular plate to a position detached from said slicing machine.

29. In a slicing machine, the combination with mechanism for cutting slices from a substance, of a slice receiver for receiving slices as they are out from the substance,fr means for rotating said slice receiver inter mittently by successive impulses to position various desired portions of the slice receiver in slice receiving positiomand means operable only after an impulse has been given to said slice receiver to stop the rotation thereof at a predetermined selected position and to hold said receiver stationary until the next impulse is imparted thereto by the means for r rotating said slice receiver. Y

30. In a slicing machine, the combination with slicing mechanism, of a. receiver pivoted upon an axis and having a slice receiving portion, a connection between said slicing mechanism and said receiver to cause intermittent rotation of said receiver, and means operative only at the end of each intermittent rotation for cooperatingwith means movablewithsaid slice receiver for preventing rotation of said receiver past a position to which the same is moved by said connection which imparts in* termittent rotation to said receiver.

8l. In a slicing machine, the combination with slicing mechanism, of a slice receiver,

means for effecting intermittent rotation of A 

